Can the A's be baseball's Warriors?

OAKLAND — Before the first pitch of the 2016 season, the A’s honored a pair of beloved former players who died during the offseason. The video tribute for Dave Henderson and Tony Phillips was a touching reminder of the glory years.

And how far the A’s are from yesteryear.

The Athletics lost the season opener 4-3 to the Chicago White Sox. That they had a shot to win, against White Sox ace Chris Sale, was impressive — an indicator of how low expectations are for the green and gold. The brightest spot on the team, ace Sonny Gray, was a late scratch because of food poisoning. If that’s not an omen.

Yet, there was a buzz at the Coliseum. No question, the vibe was propelled some by Opening Night…